Clock setting and regulating means



J1me 1962 o. H. DICKE 3,039,261

CLOCK SETTING AND REGULATING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l.FIG.I

IN V EN TOR.

OSCAR H. DICKE June 19, 1962 O. H. DICKE Filed Aug. 2, 1954 .IIHIIHIII 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

OSCAR H. DICKE AGENT 3,039,261 CLOCK SETTING AND REGULATING MEANS OscarH. Dicke, 211 S. Washington St, New Bremen, Ohio Filed Aug. 2, 1954,Ser. No. 447,271 7 Claims. (Cl. 5824) This invention relates to clockmechanisms and more particularly to clock mechanisms including rateregulating means, which rate regulating means is automatically adjustedtoward a better time-keeping position when the clock hands, or othertime manifesting means, is set to correct time after a period ofoperation of the clock which started with the clock manifesting correcttime.

It has for a long time been appreciated that the error of adjustment ofrate regulating means for a clock is proportional to the extent theclock is off at the end of a particular period of operation, but nostructure has heretofore been proposed, so far as is known, foraccomplishing automatic rate regulation in response to setting withoutinterfering with the proper operation of the clock, or its operationinterfering with the adjustment of the rate regulating means duringoperation of the clock, or during preparation for a setting operation.

With synchronous electric clocks, which keep approximately correct timeso long as no power failure takes place, in almost every home,mechanical clocks and watches may be set to indicate correct time almostanywhere and at any time. This source of approximately correct time is adecided advantage in providing automatic rate regulation in accordancewith the extent of setting in accordance mm the present invention.

In View of the foregoing and other important considerations it isproposed in accordance with the present invention to continuouslyinterconnect the escapement mechanism, the time manifesting means, andthe rate regulating means of a clock or watch so that no gear shiftingis required when a simultaneous setting and rate regulating function isto be performed.

More specifically, it is proposed to provide a planetary gear structurewhich connects a rotatable clock driven shaft, a rotatable rateregulating means together in a manner so that the clock driven shaftnormally drives the time manifesting means and so that if the timemanifesting means is set by being forced to manifest a different timethan that determined by the clock shaft the rate regulating means isalso operated in a direction to require less setting in the futureprovided such setting takes place at substantially equally time spacedintervals the length of which is dependent on the clocks design.

Although there are numerous ways in which such planetary gear structurecould interconnect the three rotatable members of the clock system abovementioned only a few ways are specifically proposed. In one it isproposed to provide a differential planetary gear mechanism between ashaft operated at substantially one revolution per hour for driving aminute hand at the same speed when the planet supporting gear is heldstationary, in another form it is proposed to accomplish this functionat a different than a one-to-one ratio as, for instance, by driving atime manifesting means at one speed through the medium of planetarygearing of which the input shaft is driven by a clock shaft rotating atanother speed with the planet supporting member of the planetary gearingheld at rest. Obviously other planetary structures could have beenproposed but have not been illustrated. It is also proposed to providemeans whereby the clock or watch may be set without injecting the rateregulating function, which feature is to be used when such clock orwatch has stopped for want of mainspring energy. Other objects, purposesand characteristic features of the invention will be understood whenthis description is con- United States Patent sidered in the light ofthe accompanying drawing, which disclose, by way of example, theprinciple of the invention and the best mode, which has beencontemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an escapement clock embodying the present invention inwhich the planetary gearing comprises the usual one-to-one ratiodifferential gearing connected to opposite sides of the usual slipclutch permitting setting of the minute hand of the clock;

FIG. 2 is a modification comprising a fragmentary portion of a structuredepending on FIG. 1 for illustration of common structure and in whichthe one-to-one ratio planetary gearing is connected directly between thetime shaft and the time manifesting means, and in which rotationreversing means is used to cause the clock hands to rotate in aclockwise direction;

FIG. 3 shows another modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1in which the planetary gear mechanism is one involving only spur gearsand in which the planetary gearing also serves as speed-up gearing;

FIG. 4 is still another modification in which the planetary gearmechanism is a Vernier gear mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1, withcertain hidden details eliminated for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 1 structure.Refe-rring now to FIG. 1 of the wound in any one of thevarious ways well known in theart and therefore requiring no specificillustration. The pinion 10 located at the high-speed end of the geartrain, is directly connected to the escape wheel 11 which has itsteethengaged by a pal-let 14 having a forked extension 1411 engaging oppositesides of leaf spring 15 supporting.

the pendulum 16 containing a pendulum weight or bob 16a.

pendulum 16, although the pendulum 16 is actually supported by the leafspring 15 supported by the round threaded plug 18 slidable in a roundhole in bracket 19 but actually supported by threads in worm-wheel 20,av key 21 sliding in a keyway in plug 18 preventing rotation of thisplug. The net result is that the turning of this.

worm-wheel 20 will change the effective length of the pendulum 16, andby changing the distance from pin 17,.

constituting the upper end of the pendulum, to the center of gravity ofpendulum 1616a, changing its period of swing or oscillation. Gear 5 andpinion '4 are connected to shaft '40 as by pin 41 and normally rotate atsubstantial-. ly one revolution per hour. This shaft 40* is in axialalignment with shaft 42 and operatively connected thereto by thefriction slip clutch 43-44 containing friction springs '45. This shaft42 is frictionally engaged with the usual minute hand shaft 46 throughthe medium of a second slip clutch 4748 containing friction springs 49.In other Words, shaft 40 is frictionally secured to shaft 42 by slipclutch 4344 and the minute hand shaft 46 is frictionally secured toshaft '42 by slip clutch 4748. This structure provides two separate slipclutches for setting the minute hand of the proposed clock under twodifferent, The minute hand shaft 46 may be set.

circumstances. through the medium of slip clutch 4748 by merely tak inghold of the minute hand itself or the setting knob 50 by turning it. Theminute hand shaft 46 may also be set by rotating setting disk 30 havinga V-shaped notch 30a and also by turning setting key 5-1. This settingkey 51 is directly secured to shaft 22 which is operatively connect- Thepallet 14 is pivoted on a split pin 17 through which spring 15 passesand is operatively connected to the ed through bevel gears 52 and 53 toshaft 23 to the planet supporting member 24 of differential gearing DFas by pin 25. This differential DF comprises planet gear supportingmember 24 having pivotally secured thereto two bevel gears 26 and 27having their axis arranged radially With respect to axis of the planetsupporting member 24. These planet bevel gears 26' and 27 engage bevelgears 28 and 29 which are coaxial with shaft 23 and are free to rotatethereon. The two latter bevel gears 28 and 29 have integral therewithspur gears 60 and 61 respectively. The spur gear 6 1 is directly meshedwith gear 62 contained on and secured to shaft 42, whereas spur gear 61}is driven by pinion 63 driven by shaft 40 through the medium of reversing idler 64. This idler 64 is provided to cause the two bevel gears28 and 29 to be rotated in opposite directions. Also because the radiusof gear 61 is to the radius of gear 62 as the radius of gear 60 is tothe radius of gear 63 the shaft 42 is driven at the same speed and inthe same direction as is shaft 40 driving the same, if we assume theplanet supporting member 24 at rest. In other words, as shaft 40 drivesthe shaft 42 and the clock minute hand 70 directly through the medium ofslip clutch 4344 it also drives them indirectly through the medium ofpinion 63, idler 64, gear 60, bevel gear 28, planet bevel gears 26 and27, bevel gear 29, spur gear 61 and spur gear 62. The direct drivethrough the slip clutch 43--44 is dominating by reason of the frictionimposed by this slip clutch. If, however, this slip clutch is forced toyield and is relatively rotated by shaft 23, as by a setting operation,the planet supporting member 24 is rotated. The shaft 23 operativelyconnected to planet supporting member 24 by pin is normally connected tothe worm 74 through the medium of disengagea-ble friction clutch 7778which worm 74 engages worm-wheel 75 contained on a shaft 76 having aworm-wheel 76a engaging worm-wheel 20 having threads in its axial boreengaging the threads on the threaded round shaft 18 which is preventedfrom rotating by key 21. It is thus seen that rotation of planetsupporting member 24 will cause a change in the adjustment of the rateregulation of the clock when the clutch 7778 is engaged but will leavethe rate regulator unchanged if this planet supporting member 24 isrotated with the clutch 77-78 disengaged. This clutch therefore affordseither setting alone by the turning of setting knob 51 or affords bothsetting and rate regulation by the turning of this setting knob 51depending on whether this clutch 77-78 is disengaged or engagedrespectively. Furthermore, the disengageable clutch 7778 may be omittedif desired in that there are still two ways of setting the clock hands,namely by turning setting knob 51 which results in simultaneous settingand rate regulation and by merely moving the clock hand 70 as by knob 50as is permitted by slip clutch '4748. The reason for permitting either,as desired, setting alone or both setting and simultaneous rateregulation is that rate regulation should only accompany setting whenthe clock is off due to poor time keeping, and setting alone should bepermitted when the clock is off due to other causes such as a run-downmainspring, for instance. It should be observed that the hour hand 71 isdriven at one twelfth the speed of minute hand 70 through the medium ofthe usual reduction gearing including pinions 80* and 82 and gears 81and 83.

Attention is now directed to the fact that the clock of FIG. 1 may alsobe set automatically, as through the medium of setting magnet SM whichmay be controlled from a remote point as for instance, by the accuratelycontrolled time signals transmitted by the National Bureau of Standardsradio station WWV, Beltsville, Maryland or by some other remotecontrolled time signal or master clock, which magnet S'M will inpractice be energized and will pick up momentarily at exactly the end ofeach hour or at the end of any other suitable time period. To accomplishsuch remote controlled setting, a setting cam preferably consisting of adisk having a radial V- shaped notch 36a is employed. This V-shapednotch may be engaged by a Vshaped hammer 85 supported by a support pivot86 and biased by spring 87 against a stop 88. The other end of thishammer 85 constitutes an armature 85a which may be attracted by settingmagnet SM when energized from a suitable electrical signal impulse.momentary energization of setting magnet SM will cause the V-shapedhammer to engage V-shaped notch 30a in disk 30 and thereby cause slightrotation of this disk if it does not already assume the even hourposition. Such rotation of disk 36) will, by reason of the relativelyfixed nature of spur gear 60 and slipability of clutch 43-44 causeslight rotation of planet supporting member 24 and worm 74 which in turncauses a slight change in the effective length of the pendulumadjustment, or adjustment of other rate regulating means such as a hairspring. Furthermore, the Worm pitches of the worms and wormwheels are ofan angle and direction such that if the V- shaped hammer 85 advanced theclock hands the rate regulating means is operated in a direction toshorten the pendulum 16 and vice versa. Should it be necessary to setthe clock manually, as in the case when it is first installed and setinto operation, the friction clutch 7778 is first disengaged followed bya rotation of setting key 51 until the clock hands indicatesubstantially correct time. This special procedure is necessary toprevent operation of the rate regulating means when the clock is setmanually for a clock including the automatic setting feature justdescribed. It should be understood that the automatic setting feature isnot necessarily used, but in any event the slip clutch 43-44 must alwaysbe provided, but when this remote controlled setting is used the slipclutch 47--48 may also be omitted. It is omitted, when automatic remotesetting is provided, so that the minute clock hand will always have adefinite relationship with the V-shaped notch 39a of the setting disk30, so that each time the setting magnet is energized the clock hand ismoved to, or is positioned in, the even hour position. The clutch member78 is spring pressed against cluch member 77 by compression spring 79and is provided with a groove engaged by the end of the lever CL whichis held toward its normal position by the spring 79.

Operation of FIG. 1 automatic setting.Let us first assume that the clockhand 70 or other time manifesting means is directly connected to shaft42 and that the frictional connection 47-48 is omitted, as may be thecase where remote controlled setting is imposed. Let us further assumethat the setting magnet SM is energized at intervals exactly an hourapart and exactly on the hour. Let us also assume that the clock was cutinto service on the hour with it indicating correct time. Let us nowassume that at the end of the first hour when the setting magnet SM wasmomentarily energized the clock hand 70 is set ahead exactly one minute,because the clock had lost one minute the first hour. As the clock handis thus advanced one minute the shaft 42 is rotated clockwise withrespect to shaft 48 to cause the planet supporting member 2 4 to beoperated counter-clockwise half as much. It is proposed that the gearratio between planet supporting member 24 and worm wheel 20 be such thatif the clock is advanced by automatic setting to the extent of oneminute the rate regulating means is operated to an extent to cause theclock to lose only a half minute or say a quarter of a minute, dependingon the gear reduction in the rate regulating chain during the next hour.That is, it is desired to make less than a full correction but notnecessarily exactly a half correction, since a three-quarter correction;or a seven-eights correction could be made, if desired. If a halfcorrection is made at each setting, made at specified intervals, theclock will be one-half minute slow at the end of the second hour, orother time period, will be one-fourth minute slow at the end of thethird setting and so on until at the end of say the twenty-fourth hourthe clock will keep substantially correct time and will be correctedonly very slightly each time the setting The i magnet SM is energizedthereafter. In other words, it is desirable to employ a gear ratio orrate regulation ratio such that each rate regulating correction is anunder correction closely approaching a full correction. If the clock isto be automatically corrected over a remote controlled clock settingsystem which transmits a clock setting im pulse only once for eachtwenty-four hours a speed-reducing gear ratio which is twenty-four timesas much as that above given, where the clock is set hourly, would haveto be used. Also in this latter case the clock would have to be adjustedmore accurately when the clock is installed. For instance, in the lattercase the clock should not gain or lose more than about two minutes intwenty-four hours in order that the V-shaped hammer would be sure tostrike the V-shaped notch 30a in setting disk 30 at the first automaticsetting of the clock. Here again it would be desirable to makesubstantially a half to a seven-eighths correction at each settingoperation so as to be sure to avoid an over-correction.

Operation Fig. 1 automatic setting omitted.As above pointed out it isproposed that the automatic setting feature including the setting disk30 may be omitted, if desired, in which event the disengageable clutch7778 may also be omitted, if desired, but if it is omitted the slipfriction clutch 47-48 must be retained. Let us now assume that thesetting disk 30, the setting hammer 85 and the setting magnet SM areomitted as is also the clutch 7778. In this case only hand setting willbe resorted to. It will be remembered that automatic setting took place,as above pointed out, at repeated equal time intervals, so also it isdesirable that manual settings shall be made at approximately equal timeintervals. It is proposed that instructions go with each mantel clock orwrist watch embodying the present invention to the effect that thesetime pieces be set, say, once per Week as for instance each Sunday. Thissort of instruction is desirable so that proper gear reduction may bebuilt into the rate regulating gear reduction train so that when thetime piece it set in conformity with these instructions a slightunder-correction of the rate regulating adjustment will be made. It ismore specifically proposed that an under-correction of the error in rateregulation adjustment be made at each such equally spaced setting timeso that a correct adjustment will be approached gradually. The settingjust mentioned will be made at setting knob 51 as a result of which theplanet supporting member 24 will be turned together with the turning ofshaft 22 which changes the rate regulating adjustment to an extent tomake a partial correction of the rate error. Thus turning of the planetsupporting member 24, since bevel gear 28 is held substantiallystationary by the clock train, will cause the bevel gear 29 to rotate attwice the speed of shaft 23 and setting knob 51 the gears 52 and 53preferably having the same number of teeth. This will cause rotation ofspur gears 61 and 62, the slip clutch 43-44 allowing slippage to takeplace, and cause the clock hand 70 to take a new position with respectto the clock shaft 40 where it again indicates correct time. The turningof setting knob 51 will, of course, for reasons already given, changethe effective length of the pendulum, or hair spring in the case of awatch, to cause the clock or watch to keep more nearly correct timethereafter. In the event the clock or watch is off, because ittemporarily stopped, the clock or watch will be set at a setting knobfastened directly to the clock minute hand 70 as illustrated by knob 50.In this latter setting manipulation slippage will take place at slipclutch 47-48 in which case no rate regulation will take place. That is,slip clutch 47-48 imposes less friction than does slip clutch 43--44.

Fig. 2 structure-In the structure shown in FIG. 1 the differential DF isarranged on a shaft parallel to the clock shaft 40 and the differentialis coupled to opposite sides of the slip clutch 4344 through the mediumof spur gear trains which drive the bevel gear 28 and 29 of differentialDF in opposite directions. This construction may be simplified byplacing the differential DF directly in the axis of clock shaft 40, asshown in FIG. 2. This change would cause the clock hands 70 and 71 tooperate counter-clockwise were it not for the reversing gears and 91provided to cause rotation of shaft 92 in the clockwise direction. Itshould be observed that a slipclutch 9798 has been provided betweensetting disk 30 and the gear 90, in order to permit setting of the clockhands 70 and 71 of FIG. 2 without performing a rate regulating function.It should also be observed that the clock hour hand 71 of FIG. 2 isdriven at one-twelfth the speed of minute hand 70 through the medium ofpinions 100 and 102 and spur gears 101 and 103. Referring now to FIG. 2the bevel gear 105 is fastened directly to shaft 40 as by a pin 106. Theplanet supporting member, which is a gear 107 in this instance, andwhich supports planet bevel gears 108 and 109 is normally held at restby friction brake 115--116 which performs through the medium of gear 113and shaft 123 the same function as does slip clutch 43-44 in FIG. 1. Ifnow the setting knob 51 of FIG. 2, corresponding to the setting knob 51of FIG. 1, is turned the friction brake 115 acting on brake wheel 116will yield and allow planet supporting member 167 to rotate. Since bevelgear 105 is held substantially firm by the stubborn behavior of theclock train the bevel gear will be rotated at twice the speed ofrotation of the planet supporting member 107 to thereby set the clockhands 7 0-7 1 to :a different position with respect'to the clock shaft40. The gear train leading to the rate regulation means and includingthe two bevel gears 52 and 53 and also including worm reduction Worms 74and 76a and worm wheels 75 and 20 of FIG. 1 is such that if the clock ofFIG. 2 is set by turning of setting knob 51 to correct time after theproper interval since it indicated correct time, say one week earlier,the rate regulating means will be operated to a position to interposeonly one-eighth that error during the next week of operation of suchwatch or clock, assuming a seveneighth correction.

Operation of FIG. 2 by manual setting.-As already pointed out the clockshaft 112 of FIG. 2 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. Thefriction brake -116 resists rotation of the plane supporting member 107so that counter-clockwise rotation of clock shaft 112 causes clockwiserotation of the clock minute hand 70 at the same rate by reason of thereversing gears 90-91 employed. Let us now assume that the clock of FIG.2 was set to correct time on one Sunday and was found to be one minuteslow the next Sunday. The clock is then set by turning setting knob 51until the minute hand 70 indicates correct time as determined by asynchronous motor electric clock, :or some other reliable timeinforrnation. That is, it is advanced one minute. This turning ofsetting knob 51 will adjust the rate regulating means of FIG. 2, shownonly in FIG. 1, driven through bevel gears 52 and 53 to increase thespeed of the clock or watch by shortening the pendulum, or hair spring,to an extent that the clock or watch will lose only a one-eighth minutethe next week assuming a seven-eighth correction. At the end of thesecond Week similar setting to a lesser extent will take place so thatthe clock or watch will be slow only one sixty-fourth minute. This sameprocedure will be repeated and after a few more weeks the clock willkeep substantially perfect time. It should be understood that instead ofmaking a seven-eighth correction in the rate regulation for each equallyspaced time period a two-third or three-fourth or some other fraction ofthe error may be corrected out. Should now, in the structure of the FIG.2 modification it be desired to correct the time indication by settingthe clock or watch following temporary stopping thereof due to failureto wind the mainspring of the time piece, such setting may beaccomplished by turning setting knob 50 fastened directly to the clockhand 70 as permitted by the slip friction clutch 97-98. In

7 this case no change in the adjustment of the rate regulator includingshaft 22 will take place.

FIG. 2.Operatin by remote setting.When the FIG. 2 clock or watch is setby signal impulses transmitted to the setting magnet SM from a remotepoint the slip clutch 9798 is preferably omitted, as is also the settingknob 50, and the clock hand 70 is properly secured to shaft 92 inrelationship to the V-shaped notch 30a in setting disk 30. Thesimultaneous setting and rate regulation of the clock of FIG. 2 byremote control is the same as already described in connection with FIG.1 and need not be repeated. In FIG. 1 each time the planet supportingmember 24 rotates the slip clutch 43-44 slips and in the same mannerwhen the planet supporting gear 107 of FIG. 2 is rotated the slip-brake115-116 slips so that slip clutch 43-44 of FIG. 1 and slip-brake 115116of FIG. 2 are functional equivalents. Such slippage takes place eachtime the setting disk 30 of FIG. 2 is rotated by the setting magnet SMof FIG. 2. Here too, when the clock is set due to stoppage of the clock,or the like, the setting is carried out by rotating setting knob 51 withthe clutch 7778, shown only in FIG. 1, disengaged. This is done so thatno rate regulation takes place when the clock is corrected because itwas off due to causes other than poor time keeping.

FIG. 3 structure.-The conventional clock mechanism including gears 3, 5,7, and 9 and pinions 4, 6, 8, and 10, mainspring housing 12, escapewheel 11, pallet 14, and pendulum 16, of FIG. 3, are in part shown inFIG. 1. Similarly the worms 74 and 76a and the worm-wheels 75 and 20 aswell as their supporting structure of FIG. 3 are in part shown inFIG. 1. The principal modification of the FIG. 3 structure over FIGS. 1and 2 resides in the elimination of bevel gears from the planetary gearstructure to thereby cheapen the construction and to reduce thefrictional losses in the gear train. This structure requires the shaft40 of FIG. 3 to operate :at one fourth the speed of shaft 40 of FIG. 1which is assumed to be the ease. Freely rotatable on the one-fourthrevolution per hour shaft 40 of FIG. 3 is a planet supporting gear 150,which supports a pin 151 projecting from the right side of this gear150. On this pin 151 is rotatably secured an integral pinion and gearstructure comprising .a pinion 153 and gear 154 of twice the radius asthat of pinion 153. The pinion 153 is nearer to the planet supportinggear 150 but on the right side of this planet supporting gear 150 and isin mesh with the spur gear 152 permanently and firmlysecured to shaft 40as by pin 156. The gear 154 integral with pinion 15? on the other handmeshes with a pinion 155 rotatable on shaft 40 and having integraltherewith a setting disk 30 similar to disk 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The setting disk 30 is provided with a V-shaped notch 30a which will beengaged by the V- shaped hammer 85 when the setting magnet SM isenergized to attract armature 85a pivoted on screw-pin 86. This settingmagnet SM will be momentarily energized from a remote point as pointedout in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Since shaft 40 of FIG. 3 rotatesclockwise as viewed facing the clock hands 70 and 71 at substantiallyone-fourth r.p.h. and since pinions 153 and 155 have radii half that ofgears 152 and 154 the setting disk 30 and clock hand 70 will rotate atsubstantially one r.p.h. in a clockwise direction as viewed from theright side of the clock as shown in FIG. 3. A small pinion 164 on shaft123 and containing a setting knob or key 51 is in meshed relation withthe teeth of planet supporting gear 150. The shaft 123 is provided witha worm 165 in mesh with worm-wheel 16'6 contained on shaft 22 havingkeyed or otherwise secured thereto a clutch member of a clutch such as77--78 shown also in FIG. 1. The shaft 123, is also provided with abrake drum 116 as also shown in FIG. 2 which is frictionally held as bythe brake 115. Between the setting disk 30 and the pinion 170 is a slipclutch plate 160 which with setting disk 30 and spring 169 constitutes aslip clutch 160169 which affords setting 8 of the clock hands 70 and 71by the setting knob 50. It will be observed that the hour hand 71 isoperated at one-twelfth the speed of the minute hand 7 0 through themedium of speed reducing pinions 170 and 172 and gears 171 and 173 thesame as in FIG. 1.

Operation of FIG. 3.-Ma nual setting.-For manual hand setting clocks andwatches the clutch 7778, the setting hammer and setting magnet SM isdisregarded or entirely omitted. The planet supporting spur gear isnormally at rest and the shaft 40 which in this structure operates atone-fourth revolution per hour drives the clock hand 70 at approximately1 r.p.h. through reducing gear train 152, 153, 154, and 155. If now theclock of FIG. 3 partly shown in FIG. 1 only, was started with correcttime one Sunday and was found to be one minute slow the next Sunday, theclock hands 7t} and '71 are set to correct time indication by turningsetting knob 51. It will be observed that turning of knob 51counter-clockwise as viewed from the front of the clock, will cause thepinion 153 to roll counter-clockwise, as viewed from the right or frontof the clock, over the relatively stationary gear 152 and thereby rotateinion 155, setting disk as and clock hand 70 clockwise. The knob 51 willin this manner be turned until clock hands 70 and 71 indicate correcttime. As this is done the knob '51 will also rotate shaft 22 in adirection and to an extent until the pendulum 16 of FIG. 1 has beeneffectively shortened to an extent to cause the clock to lose onlyone-eighth minute during the next week, assuming it is sought to make aseven-eighth correction for each setting, which function is determinedby the extent of gear reduction in the rate-regulating gear trainincluding the worm 165 and the worm-wheel 166. Should the clock havestopped by reason of failure of mainspring energy, as by failure to windthe clock, then the clock is set by setting knob 50, as permitted byslip clutch -169, in which case no rate regulation is imposed.

Operation FIG. 3.Rem0te impulse setting-If we now assume thatremote-imposed automatic setting is employed. In this case the settingknob 50 is turned until the minute hand indicates zero minutes while thehammer 85 engages the notch 30a in the setting disk 30 or otherwise theslip-clutch 160-469 is omitted and the minute hand is fixedly connectedto the setting disk 36 in the above-mentioned juxtaposed relationship.

Let us assume that the gear reduction train leading to the rateregulating means of FIG. 1 and including worm and worm-wheel 166 is inthis case designed to produce substantially a seven-eighth ratecorrection for one hour interval settings. If now the setting magnet SMis momentarily energized at the end of each hour the rate regulator willbe corrected each time proportionally to the extent of error in the timekeeping during the preceding hour until the clock is regulated to keepcorrect time after which no rotation of the setting disk takes placeduring a setting operation. Should now the clock stop due to failure ofmainspring energy either due to failure of the automatic windingfeature, not shown, or due to failure to wind by hand. In this case theclutch 77-78 will be held disengaged while the clock hands are being setthrough the medium of setting knob 51.

FIG. 4 structure.-In FIG. 4 has been illustrated a third modification ofthe invention. In order to avoid cumbersome drawings the regular clockmechanism and setting magnet SM of FIG. 1 have been omitted. Forconvenience the hour hand 71 and associated reduction gear train hasalso been omitted. In this form of the invention a planetary gearmechanism of the Vernier type is employed where the planet supportingmember 183 supports two planet gears 184 and 185 meshing with a normallystationary gear preferably having 46 teeth and a gear 181 operativelyconnected to the shaft 40 of the clock movement of FIG. 1 as by a pin132 and which preferably has 48 teeth. The gear 180 is integral withbevel gear 53 which meshes with bevel gear 52 on shaft 22 which throughreduction gearing drives the rate regulation worm-wheel 20 shown in FIG.1 of the drawings. Since gear 180 is normally held stationary by brake115-116 acting through shaft 22 and gears 52 and 53, and gear 181 isforced by shaft 40 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right,at a speed of one twentyfourth revolution per hour the points ofteeth-in-synchronism, two in number, are moved in a clockwise direction,as viewed from the right, at a speed of one revolution per hour. Asthese points of teeth-in-synchronism condition rotate about gears 180and 181 the planet pinions 184 and 185 pivoted on planet supportingmember 183 roll around with these points of teeth-insynchronism and at aspeed of substantially one revolution per hour. The teeth in these gears180 and 181 and in planet pinions 1'84 and 185 are so designed that asthe teeth of gears 180 and 181 approach each other to gradually approachconditions of non-synchronism the teeth of planet pinions 184 and 185are pushed out to produce rol-ling action of these planet pinions aboutthese gears. It is thus seen that the vernier planetary gear systemshown in FIG. 4 constitutes speed-up gearing having a speed ratio of oneto twenty-four from shaft 40 to clock hand 70 provided gear 180 is heldstationary. It will be observed that setting disk 30 having V-shapednotch 30a is directly secured to planet supporting member 183 and thatthis disk through slip-clutch 47, 48, 49, drives minute hand 70, so thatthe minute hand may be set relative to planet supporting member 183 byturning setting knob 50 when no automatic setting is employed and underconditions where setting solely and no rate regulation is desired forreasons already pointed out.

Operation FIG. 4.The operation of the FIG. 4 structure is essentiallythe same as that of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 heretofore described. It may,however, be pointed out that if the setting cam 30 shown is rotated by asetting hammer such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, or 3, the clock hand 70 willbe set and simultaneously therewith the gear 53 is rotated to causeoperation of the rate-regulating means all as heretofore described.Also, if the clock hand 70 is off correct time by reason of stopping ofthe clock it may be set at setting knob 51 with the disengage ableclutch 7778 placed in its released position so as to preventrate-regulation during this manual setting manipulation. If on the otherhand no automatic remote setting is employed the clock will be set atknob 51 or knob 59 depending on whether setting and rate regulation orsetting only is to be accomplished, respectively.

Rsume'.-The various structures shown in each of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4perform exactly the same ultimate functions and merely employ differentforms of planetary gear mechanisms, or points of application of suchmechanism, for performing these functions. In FIG. 1 a con ventionaldiiferential gear mechanism is shown in multiple with a slip-clutch43-'44 whereas in FIG. 2 a conventional differential has been includeddirectly in the hour shaft to cause reverse rotation, which is thencorrected by gears 90 and 91, and the slip-clutch function performed byslip clutch 43-44 in FIG. 1 is performed by slip brake 115-116 in FIG.2. It will be noted that these two slip structures will slip in eachcase when setting by setting key 51 is performed. In FIG. 3 theplanetary gear structure performs the additional function of producing,as shown, a one-to-four gear speed-up. This FIG. 3 structure is in factthat preferred construction in that no bevel gears 'are required and theconstruction is indeed very simple. In the FIG. 4 structure also nobevel gears are required in the planetary gear structure but this formis less desirable because of friction imposed by the Vernier feature ofthe planetary gear structure shown.

Having thus illustrated four different forms of structures for carryingout the functions of the present invention, it is desired to beunderstood that the particular forms shown do not exhaust all possibleways for carrying out this invention and merely have been selected toillustrate the scope of the invention and how the invention may becarried out and it should be understood that various other changes andmodifications may be made to carry out these functions without departingfrom the scope of the invention so long as these changes come within thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuringmechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in one directionto increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism andmay be operated in the opposite direction to decrease the speed ofoperation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting meansdriven by said time measuring mechanism for manifesting the time of day;manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifestingmeans and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means andif manually operated in one direction sets said time manifesting meansforward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction toincrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism, and ifmanually operated in the opposite direction sets said time manifestingmeans backward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction todecrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; and asecond manually operable means for when operated set ting said timemanifesting means without adjusting said rate regulating means.

2. An automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 1;wherein the first mentioned manually operable means, although it iscapable of when operated doing both setting said time manifesting meansand adjusting said rate regulating means simultaneously, it will notinterfere with the driving of said time manifesting means by said timemeasuring mechanism nor will the operation of the time measuringmechanism change the adjusted position of said rate regulating means.

3. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuringmechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in one directionto increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism andmay be operated in the opposite direction to decrease the speed ofoperation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting meansdriven by said time measuring mechanism for manifesting the time of day;manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifestingmeans and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means andif manually operated in one direction sets said time manifesting meansforward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction toincrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism, and ifmanually operated in the opposite direction sets said time manifestingmeans backward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction todecrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; and asecond manually operable means operable to a position to render saidfirst mentioned manually operable means ineffective to adjust said rateregulating means to a different adjustment when operated to set saidtime manifesting means.

4. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuringmechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in either of twodirections and if adjusted in one direction will cause an increase inthe speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if operatedin the opposite direction will cause a decrease in the speed ofoperation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting meansoperated by said time measuring mechanism to manifest the time of day;manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifestingmeans and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means andpermitting said time manifesting means to be driven by said timemeasuring mechanism and if manually operated in one direction sets saidtime manifesting means forward and adjusts said rate regulating means ina direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuringmechanism and if manually operated in the opposite direction sets saidtime manifesting means backward and adjusts said rate regulating meansin a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuringmechanism; and a second manually operable means which if operated fromits normal condition prevents adjustment of said rate regulating meansby said first mentioned manually operable means during manual setting ofsaid time manifesting means.

5. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuringmechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in either of twodirections and if adjusted in one direction will cause an increase inthe speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if adjustedin the opposite direction will cause a decrease in the speed ofoperation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting means; aplanet gear supporting member operable about an axis; a shaft pivotedeccentrically in said planet gear supporting member on an axis parallelto the axis of said planet gear supporting member and having gears ofdifferent diameters secured thereto, one of which gears is driven bysaid time measuring mechanism and the other of which gears drives saidtime manifesting means; and means operatively connecting said planetgear supporting member to said rate re gulating means in a manner sothat if said planet gear supporting member is operated in one directionsaid time manifesting means is set forward and said rate regulatingmeans is adjusted to increase the speed of operation of said timemeasuring mechanism and if operated in the opposite direction said timemanifesting means is set backward and said rate regulating means isadjusted in a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said timemeasuring mechanism.

6. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time mechanismincluding a gear reduction train, a mainspring for driving the low-speedend of said gear reduction train, an escapement mechanism driven by thehigh-speed end of said gear reduction train; planetary gear mechanismincluding a planet-supporting member supporting a planet gear and havingan input member and an output member in addition to saidplanet-supporting member and having the input member driven by said geartrain; time manifesting means driven by the output member of saidplanetary gear mechanism at a different speed than the speed of saidinput member; rate regulati2 ing means operatively connected to and foradjusting said escapement mechanism so as to operate at a predeterminedspeed and connected to the planet-supporting member of said planetarygear mechanism in a manner so that if said rate regulating means iscorrectly adjusted said time manifesting means will be driven by saidgear reduction train through the medium of said planetary gear mechanismto correctly manifest the passing of time as determined by saidescapement mechanism, if said time manifesting means has been operatingtoo fast and said rate regulating means is operated backward to anextent to cause said time manifesting means to be set backward throughthe medium of said planetary gear mechanism to correctly manifest time,said rate regulating means is also operated in a direction to cause saidescapement mechanism to operate slower than it did before such operationof said rate regulating means, and if said time manifesting means hasbeen operating too slow and said rate regulating means is operatedforward to an extent to cause said time manifesting means to be operatedforward through the medium of said planetary gear mechanism to correctlymanifest time, said rate regulating means is also operated in adirection to cause said escapement mechanism to operate faster than itdid before such operation of said rate regulating means.

7. An automatically rate regulated clock as claimed in claim 6,supplemented by disengageable means conmeeting the rate regulating meansto the planetary gear mechanism of said timepiece so that if the timemanifesting means is set when the disengageable means is in its engagingcondition the rate regulating means is also adjusted but if said timemanifesting means is set with said disengageable means in itsnon-engaging condition said rate regulating means is not adjusted tothereby render the timepiece at times non-selfra-te regulated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,066,961 Hummel July 8, 1913 1,961,320 Worrall June 5, 1934 1,982,495Browning Nov. 27, 1934 2,185,334 Dicke Jan. 2, 1940 2,542,430 RabinowFeb. 20, 1951 2,858,029 Rabinow 1.. Oct. 28, 1958 2,944,384 Rabinow July12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 452,433 Germany Nov. 10, 1927

